Month: May 2024

A brawl occurred after the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina.

NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got into a fight outside the garage area following the 200-lap race.

The physical interaction started when Stenhouse approached Busch after the race and threw a punch at Busch.

A brawl quickly ensued, and Busch’s and Stenhouses’s crews needed to be separated by security.

WATCH:

Another angle of the confrontation after the race. pic.twitter.com/JCgSZhEzwa

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 20, 2024

The animosity started on track when Busch hit Stenhouse from behind, resulting in Stenhouse flying into the wall.

Per NASCAR:

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ran just two of the 200 laps in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race, his No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet battered and out after an early altercation with Kyle Busch. With no pedestrian tunnel or bridge out of the North Wilkesboro Speedway infield, Stenhouse was forced to sit and stew.

So, he waited for the remaining 198 to retaliate.

With post-race fireworks popping off behind them in the background, Stenhouse and Busch had a brief verbal confrontation that escalated into a physical showdown between the two drivers and their crews in the NASCAR Cup Series garage, a nasty spat that triggered memories of North Wilkesboro’s rough-and-tumble past. Both drivers went to the ground, and the mounting frustrations of both the night and their seasons overall reached a tipping point.

“Bring it! I don’t give a [expletive]. I suck just as bad as you!” Busch yelled at his rival less than a minute after Stenhouse landed a right hand to Busch’s left cheek.

Another angle:

PUNCHES THROWN AT NORTH WILKESBORO pic.twitter.com/jLCrcf1noA

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 20, 2024

The post Brawl Erupts Between NASCAR Star Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. After All-Star Race (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Donald Trump is back in court today for Alvin Bragg’s show trial in New York City.

Serial liar Michael Cohen is back on the stand today after his questionable testimony last week.

The prosecution has yet to define the alleged criminal act that President Trump committed.

Paul Ingrassia: BREAKING: It seems like the trial will go at least another week, based on Judge Merchan’s introductory remarks. Says summations will not be scheduled until early next week, likely on Tuesday.

BREAKING: It seems like the trial will go at least another week, based on Judge Merchan’s introductory remarks. Says summations will not be scheduled until early next week, likely on Tuesday.

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: BREAKING: Judge Merchan is extremely limiting the scope of what the Defense expert witness can testify to. The defense is attempting to bring a former commissioner from the FEC, who happens to also be a lawyer, as their expert to the witness stand, presumably to ask and clarify for the jury, in part, why this case has not been preempted (or ‘barred’) by federal law, since this case is, after all, allegedly a federal election law violation. Judge Merchan is not allowing the Defense to clarify the meanings of technical legal jargon for the jury. He seems to not be allowing them to read statutes or ask statute-related questions, or ask about how the law has been previously interpreted by other courts. Merchan is attempting to restrict the direct examination to very general questions, and it’s obvious why: this case should not be in state court at all! If the law was being fairly applied, this case would not have gotten off the ground in the first place!

BREAKING: Judge Merchan is extremely limiting the scope of what the Defense expert witness can testify to.

The defense is attempting to bring a former commissioner from the FEC, who happens to also be a lawyer, as their expert to the witness stand, presumably to ask and…

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: Emil Bove (Trump defense attorney): The charge here is only unlawful if there’s unlawful activity, so otherwise it’s just an agreement to try to win an election. Merchan: You’ve known for months what my position would be. You ask for further legal guidance, but that’s why we had a pre-charge conference. It would be inappropriate to tell you right now what my charge is going to be without hearing both sides of the argument. Emil Bove: The government has not even established that there was an intent to defraud and intent to conceal a crime. It would only be a crime, under New York law, unless there was an intent to commit a crime.

Emil Bove (Trump defense attorney): The charge here is only unlawful if there’s unlawful activity, so otherwise it’s just an agreement to try to win an election.

Merchan: You’ve known for months what my position would be. You ask for further legal guidance, but that’s why we had…

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: Bragg attorney: The defense is not entitled to have an expert (a lawyer, law professor, and former commissioner at the FEC) to opine on federal election law! Because his testimony would be based on interpretation, it would be inappropriate!

Bragg attorney: The defense is not entitled to have an expert (a lawyer, law professor, and former commissioner at the FEC) to opine on federal election law! Because his testimony would be based on interpretation, it would be inappropriate!

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: BREAKING: Liar, perjurer, and fraudster — Michael Cohen — takes the witness stand for a fourth day now.

BREAKING: Liar, perjurer, and fraudster — Michael Cohen — takes the witness stand for a fourth day now.

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: Blanche: Since last Thursday, how many reporters have you spoken to?

Cohen: I didn’t speak to reporters.

Blanche: You didn’t speak to reporters?

Cohen: I spoke to reporters to say ‘hello’ and ‘how you’re doing?’ but nothing about this case.

Blanche: How many times have you spoken to reporters just this year?

Cohen: More than a dozen.

Blanche: More than a dozen? Like, more than 12, like 20 times?

Cohen: Probably, yes. Blanche: I’m not looking for an exact number, but was it closer to 20 or closer to 12?

Cohen: Closer to 20.

Blanche: And you met with these reporters, sometimes, longer than an hour?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

Blanche: When you spoke to them, they asked you questions similar to questions on the stand, right?

Cohen: The same topics, yes.

Blanche: When the prosecutors asked you questions Monday and Tuesday, you had heard them beforehand from the press, correct?

Cohen: I heard many questions that I had not heard before.

Blanche: Since last Thursday, how many reporters have you spoken to?

Cohen: I didn’t speak to reporters.

Blanche: You didn’t speak to reporters?

Cohen: I spoke to reporters to say ‘hello’ and ‘how you’re doing?’ but nothing about this case.

Blanche: How many times have you…

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: Blanche: Any time you’ve testified under oath, you’ve prepped for it?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

Blanche: You met with your lawyer, maybe not 20 times, but you’ve prepped with your lawyers before testifying, right?

Cohen: That’s correct.

Blanche: You’ve met with Rep. Dan Goldman to prepare for congressional testimony?

Cohen: Yes, sir. Blanche: How many times have you met with him?

Cohen: I believe twice.

Blanche: You realize he’s a former federal prosecutor?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

Blanche: During the testimony you gave in February of 2019, that’s one of the times you’ve lied, right?

Cohen: That’s correct.

Blanche: Any time you’ve testified under oath, you’ve prepped for it?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

Blanche: You met with your lawyer, maybe not 20 times, but you’ve prepped with your lawyers before testifying, right?

Cohen: That’s correct.

Blanche: You’ve met with Rep. Dan Goldman to…

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: Blanche: You did steal from the Trump organization, correct?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

What a scumbag!

Blanche: You did steal from the Trump organization, correct?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

What a scumbag!

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: Blanche: You told everybody you were the personal attorney of Donald J. Trump?

Cohen: I didn’t tell everybody but I was certainly proud of it.

Blanche: You told TMZ?

Cohen: Correct.

Blanche: You told The NY Times?

Cohen: Correct.

Blanche: You went on Sean Hannity’s show to talk about it?

Cohen: Yes, sir.

Blanche: You told everybody you were the personal attorney of Donald J. Trump?

Cohen: I didn’t tell everybody but I was certainly proud of it.

Blanche: You told TMZ?

Cohen: Correct.

Blanche: You told The NY Times?

Cohen: Correct.

Blanche: You went on Sean Hannity’s show to…

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

Paul Ingrassia: Blanche: You got paid $4 million for your consulting work in 2017?

Cohen: Yes.

Blanche: What did you do?

Cohen: I did consulting and advisory work for AT&T.

Blanche: Did you tell President Trump about the consulting work you did?

Cohen: He introduced me to the CEO of AT&T.

Blanche: But you didn’t disclose to him that you had independent agreements with AT&T to do consulting work?

Cohen: That’s correct.

Blanche: And once President Trump he was frustrated, correct?

Bragg prosecutor: Objection! Merchan: Objection sustained.

Blanche: You got paid $4 million for your consulting work in 2017?

Cohen: Yes.

Blanche: What did you do?

Cohen: I did consulting and advisory work for AT&T.

Blanche: Did you tell President Trump about the consulting work you did?

Cohen: He introduced me to the CEO of AT&T.…

— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) May 20, 2024

 

The post LIVE UPDATES FROM INSIDE TRUMP TRIAL: TGP Contributor Paul Ingrassia Reports from Inside New York Court Room appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Trump arrived in court this morning and made a statement to reporters as he does every morning.

This is the sixth week of the hush money lawfare case against President Trump and the prosecution has yet to define Trump’s crime.

Trump called out Judge Merchan again for calling him into court early after Trump had previously scheduled an event with supporters this morning but was then called in early to court by the crooked Democrat judge.

** Judge Merchan’s activist daughter has now raised $93 million off of this ongoing lawfare case against President Trump.

President Trump blasted the criminal judge after arriving at court this morning.

Here is his full statement.

President Trump: As you know, I was supposed to be in a very different state this morning, and the judge actually decided to call it early. And yet it looks like we’re going to have a very big gap between days, and it’s going to be determined right now in court. But we’re here about an hour early today. I was supposed to be making speech for political purposes. I’m not allowed to have anything to do with politics because I’m sitting in a very freezing cold courtroom for the last four weeks.

It’s very unfair. They have no case, they have no crime. It’s been determined by everybody, every legal scholar, New York Post Editorial Board today, Trump prosecution, wind down. It’s always been a witch hunt. With a prosecution winding down in Donald Trump’s Manhattan case, we have to ask in the mortal words of Peggy Is that all there is? That’s the New York Coast Editorial Board.

It’s become utterly apparent, if that wasn’t seen already, that the key elements to any prosecution is missing. The key element is missing And it says, What’s missing? A crime. There’s no crime. They go through all this stuff, and there was nothing done wrong. The NDAs were perfect. And by the way, legal expenses. We paid a legal expense. You know what it’s marked down in the book says? A legal expense. Again, it’s not marked down as construction. It’s not marked down as sheetrock and cinder block. It’s marked down as legal expense. You have a lawyer, you pay them a legal expense, and it’s covered in the book as legal expense.

I had nothing to do with it. A bookkeeper put it down as a legal expense. This is why I’m here, because we called it a legal expense, a payment to a lawyer. Jonathan Turley, even liberal experts, have continued to express doubt out over where’s the crime? Andy McCarthy, let’s stick with the relevant undisputed facts of the case. Mershon should dismiss this case. He should dismiss this case immediately. Bragg’s evidence is woefully inadequate. This case should be dismissed. It should have never been brought. And the judge is highly conflicted. He’s a corrupt judge. He’s highly conflicted. He’s totally corrupt. And he’s interfering with an election. Greg Jarrett. There is no credible evidence of a crime. Brad’s case against the accused is beyond anemic. It is an audacious, let’s see, it is an audacious corruption of the legal process and a very dangerous one…

…All Americans, regardless of political affiliation, should be appalled at this selective prosecution. Today, it’s a great term. I should use it now. I will. Selective I enter prosecution. This all comes from the White House. It all comes from the DOJ in the White House. Take a look who’s in the room. This all comes from the DOJ in the White House. It’s an attack by Biden, who’s mentally unfit. He’s mentally unfit to be the President of this country. It’s an attack on his political opponent. That’s all it is. All of the things you see that you saw over the last four weeks, most of it should have never even been brought up. Then on top of that, there’s no crime. We go on day after day, and I tell Iowa, I’m sorry, I won’t be able to make it. I tell New Hampshire, Sorry, I won’t be able to make it. I’m sitting in an ice box all day…

…John Adams said, Liberty without virtue is tyranny. We have tyranny right now. We have tyranny right now, and we’re disgracing our New York Court system. And we’re really disgracing our country because all over the world they’re watching.

President Trump will be sitting in the icebox as he calls it all day today, the sixth week of this particular lawfare trial.

The Gateway Pundit contributor Paul Ingrassia is covering the case today from inside the courtroom.

Here is President Trump.

The post “He’s Corrupt!” – Trump Arrives at Court for SIXTH WEEK of Ongoing Lawfare Trial, Blasts Crooked Judge Juan Merchan – Merchan’s Daughter Has Now Raised $93 Million Off the Case appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Welcome to The Gateway Pundit’s Week-in-Review with Elijah Schaffer, where he covers the top 5 stories throughout the week in around 10 minutes.

ARTICLE 1: JUST IN: Boeing Whistleblower John Barnett’s Cause of Death Revealed

ARTICLE 2: Dirty Brad Raffensperger and Gabe Sterling Caught Rigging 2024 Election Against Donald Trump – Using the Same Tricks as Last Time!

ARTICLE 3:  “I Can No Longer in Good Conscience Continue to Represent This Administration” – Biden Interior Department Staffer Abruptly Resigns

ARTICLE 4:  Home Intruder with Long Rap Sheet “Cut to Pieces” by Florida Man After Shooting Innocent Woman in the Face

ARTICLE 5:   President Trump Eviscerates Joe Biden In Hilarious ‘Keeps Falling’ Music Video On Truth Social

Please leave your opinions / comments on these stories below as Elijah reads every single one and appreciates your perspective.

 

The post NEW: Boeing Whistleblower SUSPICIOUS CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED | Elijah Schaffer’s Top 5 (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Joe Biden’s latest speech at Morehouse College is further proof that he is being set up for replacement. So is his debate with President Trump.

In this episode of Stinchfield, I explain how and why Democrats are operating behind the scenes to set Joe Biden up for failure. We have audio proof Joe Biden is being sabotaged from within his own administration.

Plus, hear the sermon that dubbed Kamala Harris “Miss Lock Up a Brother.”

The post Operation Oust Joe Biden is Very Real- Democrats are Setting Him Up for Failure! appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Jim Hoft and podcast host Joe Hoft from JoeHoft.com and Lindell TV joined the the lovely and brilliant conservative warrior Monica Crowley on her podcast recently.

The Monica Crowley Podcast is marketed as a whipsmart, fast-paced, sassy blend of politics, culture, history and humor, all brought to you with the sunny optimism of Ronald Reagan’s “Happy Warrior” spirit.

Monica Crowley has – uniquely – served two American Presidents: Richard Nixon in his last years as Foreign Policy Assistant, and Donald Trump as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. A high-profile TV and radio personality, she’s a New York Times bestselling author, popular columnist, and savvy, funny host who delivers one-of-a-kind insights and interviews. The Monica Crowley Podcast is true appointment listening.

The interview is now live on Monica’s podcast page.

Jim Hoft and Joe Hoft cover a number of subjects on election integrity, the industrial cencorship complex, and the incredible amount of challenges The Gateway Pundit has faced since we stood up and confronted the corrupt powers that be.

This is a very interesting interview on the 2020 election, the persecution of The Gateway Pundit, and hope for the future.

Monica could not have been more appreciative and respectful.

I’m listening to The @MonicaCrowley Podcast ♫ @iHeartRadio with @GatewayPundit and @JoeHoft https://t.co/RBkOzkLRg3

— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) May 20, 2024

The post NOT TO MISS: Conservative Firebrand Monica Crowley Interviews Jim Hoft and Joe Hoft on Election Integrity on the Monica Crowley Podcast appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The International Criminal Court asked for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

The International Criminal Court on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Karim Khan made the announcement this morning.
How creepy.

#ICC Prosecutor @KarimKhanQC announces applications for arrest warrants in relation to Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant in the context of the situation in the State of #Palestine https://t.co/WqDZecXFZq pic.twitter.com/bxqLWc5M6u

— Int’l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) May 20, 2024

The Jew haters are going to love this news.

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor Karim Khan announced the news on CNN with reporter Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview on Monday.

Khan also said he was issuing an arrest warrant for Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, the leader of the Al Qassem Brigades who is better known as Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader.

This puts Prime Minister Netanyahu in an elite group. As CNN reported – The decision puts Netanyahu in the company of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, for whom the ICC issued an arrest warrant over Moscow’s war on Ukraine, and the Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, who was facing an arrest warrant from the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity at the time of his capture and killing in October 2011.

Obviously, Khan is placing Hamas terrorists on the same equivalent footing as Israeli leaders.

Khan told Amanpour the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant include “causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war, including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.”

Israel is supplying food, water, energy, and supplies to Gaza at the same time they are at war with the terrorist organization Hamas.

Aid continues to flow into Gaza 》》》
422 humanitarian aid trucks were transferred to Gaza today (May 19).

These trucks entered from the various aid routes we developed:
Ashdod port, Erez crossing, Judea and Samaria, and JLOTS (maritime route).

We will continue expanding… pic.twitter.com/eswnOJ9mkM

— COGAT (@cogatonline) May 19, 2024

Hamas still holds 128 Israeli hostages from the October 7 attack.

The reaction to this news from Israel and its supporters was swift.

Israeli official Dannan Danon responded:

A court that equates the leaders of a democratic nation, such as a prime minister and a defense minister, with those of a terrorist organization responsible for a sadistic massacre, where they butchered, tortured and raped of thousands of innocent citizens, does not deserve the…

— Danny Danon דני דנון (@dannydanon) May 20, 2024

Rep. Marc Molinaro.

This is a mistake and will forever damage the credibility of the ICC. There can be no equivocation. Prime Minister Netanyahu is the leader of a democracy and is defending Israel’s right to exist following the horrific October 7th attacks. Hamas is a terrorist organization…

— Rep. Marc Molinaro (@RepMolinaroNY19) May 20, 2024

The ICC has shown what a complete joke it is, putting Israel’s prime minister on the same level as Hamas’ terrorist leaders.https://t.co/WhRM8nLDCS

— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) May 20, 2024

The post International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Welcome to The Gateway Pundit’s Week-in-Review with Elijah Schaffer, where he covers the top 5 stories throughout the week in around 10 minutes.

Today is a special day with BREAKING news regarding the death of the Iranian President Ebrahaim Raisi.

Collin Rugg of Trending Politics reported on X: “JUST IN: Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi is confirmed dead after rescuers reached the crash site. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is also dead.

The discovery came after a long night of searching in freezing conditions. Shortly before the discovery, Iranian Red Crescent Society head Pir-Hossein Kolivand said the situation was “not good.” According to Reuters, the helicopter was completely burned in the crash.”

Please leave your opinions / comments on these stories below as Elijah reads every single one and appreciates your perspective.

The post BREAKING: Iranian President CONFIRMED Dead! | Elijah Schaffer appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

And so we’ve come to the point of the war in Ukraine in which the west’s ‘Knight in Shining armor’, the ‘defender of democracy’ Volodymyr Zelensky has outrun his Constitutional Presidential mandate, and is now in power only by virtue of the martial law he enacted.

That is just the most dramatic of the absolutely disheartening (for Kiev) series of developments.

To begin with, a series of videos have surfaced showing how the streets of Ukraine now are deserted, with men hiding from conscription into the army – and somehow, everyone else seemed to have stayed at home, too.

Watch: Deserted streets as the new mobilization law came into force on May 18th.

Poltava after the new mobilization law took affect today.

Nobody … https://t.co/WYre2abbyL pic.twitter.com/ENuWqpY2sP

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 18, 2024

More videos of empty Ukraine!

-> 18th of May, the new mobilization law came into force.

Nobody goes out and is hiding. Insane. https://t.co/eA2Hb9NxWF pic.twitter.com/khJLLTShWx

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 18, 2024

In the context of the rapidly progressing Russian Federation forces, even deep-state aligned papers like WaPo feel compelled to report on the shitshow.

They are catching up to TGP’s report on the abnormal powers held by Zelensky’s top aide Andrey Yermak. So now, they’ve come as far as writing:

“If actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky’s top credential when he was elected in 2019 was that he’d played a president on TV, the top qualification of his all-powerful chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, was being Zelensky’s friend.”

Ouch. WaPo discusses how martial law, has concentrated extraordinary authority in the presidential administration, ‘making Yermak perhaps the most powerful chief of staff in the country’s history — virtually indistinguishable from his boss’.

American Ambassador meets with Yermak.

Washington Post reported:

“Yermak’s closeness to the president — and evident influence over him — has drawn a barrage of accusations: that he has undemocratically consolidated power in the president’s office; overseen an unneeded purge of top officials, including commander in chief Gen. Valery Zaluzhny; restricted access to Zelensky; and sought personal control over nearly every big wartime decision.

Now, however, the legitimacy of the president and his top adviser are about to face even bigger challenges as Zelensky’s five-year term officially expires on May 20. Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections under martial law. But as Zelensky stays in office, he will be vulnerable to charges that he has used the war to erode democracy — seizing control over media, sidelining critics and rivals, and elevating Yermak, his unelected friend, above career civil servants and diplomats.”

Eminence grise Yermak controls which officials can travel abroad and when; has sidelined the Foreign Ministry; interfered in military decisions – and brokered key deals with the United States.

His brother Denys was caught on video using his family ties to sell positions in Zelensky’s administration.

‘Eminence grise’ Yermak never leaves Zelensky’s side.

WaPo woke up to the fact that the Defender of Democracy put all six major Ukrainian television stations to broadcast the same news content 24 hours a day, called ‘the United News Telemarathon’.

And, of course, as we spoke at the beginning, there’s the ‘small detail’: Zelensky’s mandate expires today.

“’The Russians will use this’, one longtime Ukrainian official said of Zelensky’s expiring term. To maintain legitimacy, Zelensky ‘must have trust’, this official said, speaking, as many others did for this article, on the condition of anonymity to preserve political relations and to avoid retribution.”

Zelensky’s legitimacy may preclude Moscow’s signing of peace treaties with him.

Zelensky’s legitimacy is a question to Moscow as well, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared.

Putin explained that Zelensky’s status has a bearing on any potential agreement between the countries.

RT reported:

“Speaking at a press conference while on a state visit in China on Friday, President Putin said the issue of Zelensky’s legitimacy is something that ‘Ukraine’s own political and legal system’ must address, ‘first of all the Constitutional Court’. He noted that the country’s constitution foresees ‘different variants’.

‘But to us this does matter because if it comes to the signing of any documents, surely, we should sign documents in such a momentous area with the legitimate authorities’, Putin explained. He added that the Kremlin had regularly stayed in touch with President Zelensky before the hostilities broke out.

[…] In late April, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that a ‘moment will come soon when many people, including those inside Ukraine, will question [President Zelensky’s] legitimacy’.”

Ukrenergo announces power outages.

If all that was not bad enough, today, (20)  hourly power outage schedules started for Ukrainian industrial and household consumers.

The consequences of the brutal, systematic attacks on the Ukrainian energy system are starting to show.

The second largest gas compressor and storage station in Europe, the Bilche-Volitsa station, was destroyed.

The main control room (management), SERB (operation and equipment), administrative building, and security buildings were struck.

Meanwhile, the news from the battlefields adds to the doom and gloom in Ukraine.

Kharkov offensive is wielding territorial gains not only in the north, but also on the east and south, both in Donetsk and also in Zaporozhie, where Russians took back to one memorable village Ukraine managed to conquer in the failed summer offensive.

Now, in keeping with its strategy of fatiguing the badly outmanned and outmaneuvered Ukrainian troops, Russia is rumored to be about to open a new front even further north on the Sumy region – which means to say that Kiev may find itself under attack.

Watch: Kharkov fortification construction targeted by Russian Lancet drone strike. 

Kharkov fortification construction is going well! pic.twitter.com/mYYZo4hWYU

— SIMPLICIUS Ѱ (@simpatico771) May 19, 2024

Simplicius the Thinker wrote on Substack:

“It could all be maskirovka, of course—but it certainly is thought-provoking. It’s in Russia’s best interest to stretch the front as much as possible and totally break Ukraine’s ability to resist, exhausting their units. The only question is how much of the newly-raised forces does Russian command dare commit to such a long-term operation, and how much heavy armor and gear does Russia have to equip another such large force.”

The Russian term маскировка (maskirovka) literally means masking, and in time it came to have the broader meaning of military deception.

But the Sumy attack may be the real thing:

“The latest tactic is exhausting Ukraine’s best brigades for precisely the reason I’ve outlined for months—they are being whisked willy-nilly to and fro to plug gaps because Russian logistics agility is superior.”

Read more:

Northern Kharkov Offensive: A Russian Ruse, or a Dangerous New Front With Multiple Attack Waves? (VIDEOS)

The post UKRAINE DARKNESS: Zelensky’s Mandate Expires Today – Streets Are Empty as Men Hide From New Conscription Law – MSM Questions the Power of Presidential Aide Andy Yermak – Power Outages All Over the Country appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Screenshot: FOX News

In a fiery exchange on Fox News Sunday, Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) vehemently defended her steadfast support for former President Donald Trump, clashing with host Shannon Bream over a New York Times hit piece.

The article in question portrayed Stefanik as a one-time skeptic of Trump who has since transformed into a vocal ally, a narrative Stefanik branded as a calculated smear.

Rep. Elise Stefanik is reportedly on the short list of possible contenders to be Trump’s running mate. Trump himself reportedly referred to Stefanik as ‘a killer’ during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year.

As a result, the far-left New York Times article interviewed several individuals claiming to be Stefanik’s former friends. They described Stefanik’s transformation into a Trump loyalist as surprising and inconsistent with her previous views.

Bream challenged Stefanik: “The New York Times had a lengthy piece where they talk about your transformation. They say from somebody who was not supportive of President Trump to somebody who is full-throatedly supportive of him. They say you called him a ‘whack job’ at one point. They add this, ‘In August 2015, she told a New York radio station that he was ‘insulting to women,’ and that his candidacy would hurt the party’s efforts to attract female voters.’

“‘According to her former friends, she thought Mr. Trump was too awful and ridiculous to be taken seriously… Her revisionism still shocks those who have known her the longest and who remember the disdain she expressed for Mr. Trump back then.’ So the question is, when? More importantly, why did you change your mind about President Trump?” Bream asked.

Stefanik hit back immediately: “Well, Shannon, it’s a disgrace that you would quote the New York Times with nameless, faceless, false sources.”

Bream defended her position: “But they’re calling you your friend, so I’m giving you a chance to respond to that.”

“No, Shannon. They’re not quoting my friends. Those names are not included because they are false smears,” Stefanik retorted.

Despite Bream’s insistence that there were named sources in the lengthy hit piece, Stefanik stood her ground: “This is a false smear. Let me tell you a fact, Shannon. In 2016, I was attacked as the only elected Republican from the Northeast who voted for President Trump… To say that I didn’t support him is just false.”

Stefanik went on to affirm her unwavering support for Trump, stating that she had always put “New York 21 first, and America first” and that her record spoke for itself.

When Bream pressed Stefanik about a quote attributed to her calling Trump “insulting to women,” Stefanik clarified that the statement was in response to a leaked comment from Democrats in 2016.

“I said the statement that the Democrats leaked out in 2016, that that was insulting. However, Shannon, I stood by and supported him, and I strongly support him. He has done so much to promote women in senior positions, as well as promote women’s economic opportunity that we experienced under the four years of his administration. I’ve been proud to support him.

In a pointed critique of the media’s coverage, Stefanik accused Bream of perpetuating the Times’ narrative.

“It’s a disgrace that you would take a New York Times article and just read negative quotes when the reality was I was the only Republican elected woman from the Northeast who voted for him in 2016, who has strongly supported him, and I’m proud to be one of his strongest allies today,” said Stefanik.

As the interview wrapped up, Bream noted that the public could read the New York Times piece for themselves, acknowledging the on-the-record sources cited in the article. However, Stefanik insisted on her unwavering support for Trump from as early as 2016, urging Bream to communicate this consistency to the viewers.

WATCH:

The post MAGA Republican Elise Stefanik Clashes with Shannon Bream for Quoting New York Times’ Hit Piece Questioning Her Loyalty to Trump: “This is a Disgrace” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.